Packing-box for cotton-presses



(No Model.)

J. S. SMITH.

PACKING BOX FOR COTTON PRESSES.

Patented Nov. 18, 1884 I ara STATES ATENT rarer;

PACKING-BOX FOR COTTON-PRESSES SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatentNo. 308,208, dated November 18, 1884.

Application filed September 27. 1884. (No model.)

To all III/"110722, it may concern;

Be it known that I,JAMES S. SMITH. a citizen of the United States,residing at Beebe, in the county of White and State of Arkansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing-Boxes forCotton-Presses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to packing-boxes for cotton-presses; and itconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts.

Figure l. is a perspective view of the same, showing one of the sidedoors open and the others closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views ofthe same.

M yinvention is described as follows: I make two strong frames, A and B,of solid beams of wood, their ends a and b projecting and clamping thefour parts of the cotton-press, represented by the dotted lines 0. Onthe inside of the frames A and B are secured smooth planks d, which runperpendicularly and to the upper face of frame A from the lower face ofthe frame B. Between the planks d are left slots or spaces through whichthe ratchets d of the swinging or sword doors D pass, and extend about ahalf inch inward beyond the inner face of the said planks. The swingingratchet or sword doors D are made of an upper beam, e,-and a lower beam,6, into which are set ratchet-beams d, with the holding side of theirteeth downward, so that when the cotton is tramped into the box theyhold it down. There are four of these doors, one at either end and oneon either side of the box. They are secured to the frame A at theirupper ends by hinges a, and are held into place by looks a lVhen thecotton is tramped into the box and all things ready to make the bale,the looks a are turned down and the springs e throw the doors out, as isshown by the right-side door in Fig. 1. The spring 6 has its lower endturned out and is fastened by means of screws to the upper face of beam6 of the ratchetdoor D, and its upper end rests against the outer faceof the upright planks d.

I claim that my ratchet press-box is con structed so as to admit ofswinging ratchet or sword doors which, when closed into the slotted box,makes the inside just suited to the holding down of cotton tramped intothe box by man or by a machine.

The principle of tramping lint-cotton into a cotton-box is to trampaltogether on the sides of the box, and the friction between the cottonand the sides of the box being the only means of holding the cotton downand cotton-lint being of a very spongy nature requires all press-boxesto be madeof undressed lumber, the inside of which will soon wearsmooth, and then the remedy is to keep the sides wet to create frictionenough to hold the lint down.

In many instances the box is hacked on the inside with an ax to keep itrough. The water is injurious to the lint so packed, and it is oftencaller water-packed cotton. Running the follow-block down to press thelint into a bale, when the box has wetted sides or is rough from othermeans, causes great friction on the sides, taking much more power toform a bale, when, if sides of press-box were smooth, it would take muchless power.

I claim that a nlan can tramp as much more cotton into my press-box inhalf the time, and with much more case than in the ordinary boxes.

In using my box screw-pins can be made shorter and thereby stronger.

After thelint has been tramped into my box in sufficient quantity tomake a bale the lock that holds the doors in place should be lowered,when the spring will immediately shove the ratchet or sword doors outand hold them so. The box is then smooth and ready to make the bale.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. The cotton-press box consisting of the frames A B, having extendedends a b, grasping the posts 0, being lined with smooth boards (I, witha space between each for the entrance of the ratchet-teeth cl of theratchetdoor D, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a cotton-press box, the ratchet-door spring e, its lower endsecured to the upper D, consisting of the beams e e, and ratehetface ofthe beam 0 of the ratchet-door D, its beams d, hinged to said boX at itsupper end upper end resting against the outer face of 15 by hinges a,and looked in place at its lower one of the planks d, substantially asshown 5 end by lock a substantially as shown and deand described, andfor the purposes set forth. scribed. i In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature in 3. The combination of the cotton-press box, 1 presence oftwo witnesses. l as above described with ratched door D hinged to saidbox by hinges a, and locked JAMES SMIDH' 10 into place by look a itsratchets d passing to the inside of said cottonpress box throughXVitnesses:

A. WV. BUMPASS,

the spaces left between the planks d andl J. M. BATTLE.

